Complete Works of Gao Shiqi · 5

Author: Gao Shiqi
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-11-04
Features: The major feature of this reprinted edition of The Complete Works of Gao Shiqi is the addition of nearly 200,000 words of memoirs, personally written by Gao Shiqi during his later years in the hospital. These memoirs reveal his extraordinary life and inner journey to the public. Gao Shiqi was a pioneer and founder of China's science popularization movement and a great disabled figure in human history, enjoying high prestige both domestically and internationally. Despite being completely paralyzed, he wrote millions of words of science popularization works. In honor of his contributions, the International Astronomical Union named asteroid No. 3704 "Gao Shiqi" in 1999.
Gao Shiqi was a renowned scientist, science popularizer, and educator in China. He was also a great disseminator of scientific thought and a pioneer and founder of China's science popularization movement. Over nearly 60 years of paralysis, he overcame immense physical pain and unimaginable difficulties, writing millions of words of science popularization works. From 1991 to 1994, Anhui Children's Publishing House published The Complete Works of Gao Shiqi in four volumes. The collection received widespread acclaim upon publication, winning awards such as the "National Book Award" and the "National Outstanding Science Popularization Book Award." It enriched China's scientific and cultural treasury. However, due to various reasons, only 500 sets were published at the time. These sets were snapped up during the The Complete Works of Gao Shiqi press conference and are now treasured by people from all walks of life. Many libraries and universities subsequently sought to purchase copies but were unable to, leading to numerous requests for a reedition. On the occasion of the centennial of Gao Shiqi's birth, we decided to reprint The Complete Works of Gao Shiqi. This reprinted edition is divided into five volumes: Volume 1 contains science popularization works created before 1949, Volume 2 includes works from 1949 onwards, Volume 3 features poems written throughout Gao Shiqi's life, Volume 4 contains his essays and speeches, and Volume 5 consists of his late-life memoirs, messages, congratulations, and dedications.
The major feature of this reprinted edition of The Complete Works of Gao Shiqi is the addition of nearly 200,000 words of Gao Shiqi's memoirs. This is a special memoir, personally written by the late Gao Shiqi during his hospitalization. It provides a complete account of some lesser-known years, events, and stories in his life, from his birth to the founding of the People's Republic of China. Thus, it offers a vivid and comprehensive image of Gao Shiqi and his life journey. With plain and sincere language, he authentically reveals his extraordinary life and inner thoughts. From this memoir, it is clear that Gao Shiqi's life was filled with suffering and tragedy, yet he navigated this external journey with an indomitable spirit of humor and optimism.
In the memoirs, Gao Shiqi provides a complete and truthful account of his life, earnestly analyzing his inner world. This is his to future generations. Subsequently, the () of Beijing Hospital and the demolition of the South Building caused dust to flood his room, leading to severe aspiration pneumonia. From then on, he was confined to bed. Three years later, he left this world, leaving behind those he deeply loved.
From Gao Shiqi's memoirs, we clearly sense why he is called the "pioneer and founder of China's science popularization movement" and why he said "handing science to the people" was his mission. He did not earn the naming of asteroid No. 3704 after him or become a national law () based on his scientific work without reason. Gao Shiqi's memoirs are free of artistic embellishment or (), resembling a vivid and moving screenplay. They present a truly humanized Gao Shiqi, whose () is rare indeed.
The compilation of Gao Shiqi's memoirs was a long and arduous process, spanning over a decade. It involved repeated revisions, additions, and identifications. The memoirs were scattered across over 20 notebooks, with dates, locations, and events crossing and overlapping in a disorganized manner. It was extremely difficult to find the connection between one passage and the next. Moreover, the handwriting was blurred and chaotic, as he wrote with trembling hands. Numerous names, places, historical events, and even English letters and technical terms required (). Due to his responsibilities as the director of the Gao Shiqi Foundation and numerous social engagements, the memoirs remained unpublished until now. This is the first time they are being fully released to the public.
The reedition of The Complete Works of Gao Shiqi holds significant social and (). In 2002, a female legislator at the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference proposed the concept of "green science popularization." What is "green science popularization"? She believed that while academicians writing science popularization often fell short of the mark (i.e., "science without popularization"), scientists should instead propose topics, content, and frameworks, with writers and literary figures handling the creation and refinement. In reality, this issue was already addressed in Gao Shiqi's science popularization works decades earlier. Gao Shiqi seamlessly blended science and literature, achieving a perfect harmony of art. He not only used simple and accessible language to explain profound and mysterious science to both farmers and children but also taught future science popularizers that this work should be integrated with the development of science and technology, literature, art, poetry, psychology, and fairy tales, and that they should seek advice from experts in these fields.
Thus, the publication of this book serves not only as an excellent textbook for science popularization education for the general public and young people but also as a model for scientists and academicians engaged in science popularization. It demonstrates how to better create science popularization works and how to make them accessible, easy to understand, and enjoyable for the masses.
The reason why Gao Shiqi's works have become timeless classics and an enduring legacy is not accidental but the result of his extensive engagement with science, culture, philosophy, religion, and literature. He was not only a model of the fusion of science and literature but also a pioneer in the integration of science and social sciences. He was a model of the combination of natural and social sciences, as well as a paragon of science and philosophy. He poured everything he experienced and learned into his science popularization and literary works, including folk customs from his childhood, which he transformed into The Flower Drum Opera. He wove myths and fairy tales he encountered into specific plots and characters, such as The Three Immortals and The Island of Many Legs. He infused traditional culture, the Four Books and Five Classics into his works, even naming the opening of The Autobiography of a Mushroom "My Name." He incorporated the Taoist beliefs of the Supreme Lord Lao and the Three Great Patriarchs, as well as the myths of The Investiture of the Gods, into his creations. He also included Christianity, Buddhism, and the biblical Adam and Eve in his writings, and the philosophical and spiritual essence of Buddhism was subtly reflected in his works. Western science, medicine, literature, art, and history—from the medieval spread of the plague to the ()—are all vividly depicted in his vast works. He even predicted the Japanese imperialist bacteriological warfare, its reality, and preventive measures. He described the state of national emergency mobilization and infused the essence of Marxist thought into his works, mercilessly critiquing society. He even included Engels' Dialectics of Nature in his long science poem The Symphony of the Sky, creating a renowned chapter that once again foretold the advancement of the times and the inevitable victory of the people.
Gao Shiqi dedicated everything he explored, experienced, and learned to his scientific creations, using them to fulfill his mission of "handing science to the people." His goals were clear, his direction unwavering, and his aspirations realistic and grand. In this sense, Gao Shiqi was a true master—a great figure who synthesized ancient and modern, Chinese and foreign science, culture, and philosophy. Therefore, I consider the criticisms, ridicule, and mockery of some individuals toward Gao Shiqi's works in 2002 to be utterly absurd and laughable. But this absurdity and ridiculousness are based on their failure to truly understand Gao Shiqi's life experiences, thoughts, and profound knowledge.
Gao Shiqi was proficient in English and deeply versed in German, French, Russian, and Latin. In his youth, he once said, "In reality, my English writing skills were better than my Chinese." At the time, he had no confidence in his Chinese writing abilities (see Dai Botao's memoirs). He thoroughly read the literary works of Western countries and was familiar with the works of renowned poets and writers such as Shakespeare, Shelley, Byron, Stendhal, and Goethe. Thus, he could effortlessly quote maxims, philosophies, and anecdotes from Western classics.
The reedition of The Complete Works of Gao Shiqi, especially the compilation of his memoirs, was made possible with the generous support and assistance of his lifelong friends. Notably, Ye Yonglie provided invaluable materials, such as the 5,000-character Childhood memoir dictated by Gao Shiqi and recorded by Bai Hua, as well as the Biography of the Ancestral Lineage of Gao Shiqi's family. Mr. Dai Botao wrote An Unfortunate Scientist—Gao Shiqi, and Pu Manting recently published Research Materials on Gao Shiqi, which included biographical details, A Brief Biography of Gao Shiqi, and the Chronological Table of Gao Shiqi's Life and Literary and Science Popularization Activities. Additionally, many young friends devoted their weekends to assisting with the editing and publication of The Complete Works of Gao Shiqi. Staff from the China Aviation Press Industry Publishing House worked overtime during the National Day holiday to contribute to this effort. In essence, the reedition of The Complete Works of Gao Shiqi was a labor of love, meticulously crafted in the days leading up to the centennial of Gao Shiqi's birth.